OKC federal judge approved
A federal judge in Oklahoma City who faced questions about his work habits after being deemed unqualified by the American Bar Association was approved for a promotion by a Senate committee Thursday.
Charles Goodwin, a federal magistrate judge, was nominated by President Donald Trump in July to be a federal district judge for Oklahoma's western half. His nomination was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with a vote of 15-6.
Goodwin’s nomination raised eyebrows when the American Bar Association rated him unqualified due to his “work habits, including his frequent absence from the courthouse until mid-afternoon.”
The judge defended his work ethic before the Judiciary Committee on Dec. 17, saying he has a home office and “will work remotely in the mornings when I don't have court hearings and when I'm focused on written opinions."
Goodwin’s nomination divided Democrats on the committee, with a halfdozen voting against and four voting in favor. The committee’s 11 Republicans all voted in favor.
“Given Judge Goodwin’s experience, this rating was a head-scratcher for some of us,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, of the ABA’s “unqualified” rating.
Grassley read aloud a letter from Goodwin’s boss, Chief Judge Joe Heaton, and said Heaton’s support has convinced him that Goodwin is qualified for the promotion.
“I believe that he has served ably as a U.S. magistrate judge and he continues to have the full confidence of the district judges,” Heaton said of Goodwin, adding that he is “plainly qualified to be a U.S. District judge.”
“I’m going to base my vote,” Grassley said, “for Judge Goodwin’s nomination off the record of the chief judge, Heaton, rather than the ABA’s unmerited evaluation.”
Goodwin’s nomination now goes to the full Senate, where a simple majority vote will be necessary for confirmation. A date for the vote has not been scheduled.